Ka`u News Briefs, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016

Nature’s lighting created a Hawaiian Christmas season halo over pine trees at  Discovery Harbour in Kaʻū yesterday evening. Photo by Peter Anderson

WAIKAPUNA PRESERVATION came one step closer to reality yesterday when the Legacy Land Commission of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources ranked it number one in all the Hawaiian Islands for land acquisition funding. If Legacy Lands contributions, plus much additional funding, allows for the purchase, the 2,200 acres would be held by the Ala Kahakai Trail Association with a conservation easement provided to the county. The county, Trust for Public Land and many others are helping to conserve Waikapuna.
     The effort is community driven in partnership, said Ala Kahakai National Trail Superintendent Aric Arakaki, who made a presentation.

Waikapuna is one of three major properties in Kaʻū owned by Resource Land Holdings. Waikapuna won a top ranking for funding for preservation at the Legacy Land Commission meeting yesterday in Honolulu.

The community organizations that would manage the property have “interest in trail and adjacent cultural and natural landscapes protection, preservation and perpetuation of traditional uses and lifetyles.”
     Many public, private and community organizations are involved, “dedicated to cultural perpetuation, environmental conservation, agricultural self reliance and the provision of sustainable livelihood opportunities for the people of Kaʻū,” said Arakaki.
    The Ala Kahakai National Trail runs through Waikapuna. The land is known for the remains of a Hawaiian fishing village and many other cultural sites and wildlife.
     In addition to Legacy Land funding, money could also come, in part, from the “Two Percent” fund from county property tax revenues.
     Waikapuna is owned by Resource Land Holdings, of Colorado, which also owns the slope above Honuʻapo and Kaʻū Coffee farmer lands at Pear Tree and Moaʻula.

RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016 ELECTION?  U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono – a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – released a statement yesterday, expressing her support for an independent, bipartisan, Congressional inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 nationawide election and raised six questions for the review process.
     “The Intelligence Community’s assessment that Russia intended to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election is deeply disturbing,” said Hirono. “Last month I joined my colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee in writing a letter to urge President Obama to de-classify information about Russian interference. The American people deserve to know as much as possible about Russia’s attacks on our democratic institutions. This is something he can and should do quickly,” said Hirono.

Sen. Mazie Hirono suports inquiry into whether Russia interfered with the U.S. Election. Photo from Global Policy Solutions

    “President Obama recently asked the Intelligence Community to provide an assessment before he leaves office. This is an important and positive step. I also support an independent, bipartisan, Congressional inquiry into this matter. This review should focus on answering, among others, the following core questions:
    “To what extent were computer systems at U.S. national party committees compromised?
    “To what extent was information stolen from those computer systems disclosed?
    “Was information leaked from both political party organizations equally – and if not, why not?
    “Did staff members of the presidential campaigns have any contact with Russian officials or Wikileaks during the campaign?
    “To what degree are Russian president Vladimir Putin or other high-ranking officials personally involved in directing these Russian activities?
    “How do we prevent Russia from interfering in future U.S. elections?”
     Last month, Hirono sent a letter to Obama calling on him to declassify any and all intelligence pertaining to Russian interference in the 2016 election.